Title: King of Qin and the First Emperor of the Qin dynasty
Country/region: China
Years in Power: 221 - 202 B.C.E
Political, Social, & Economic Conditions Prior to Leaders Gaining Power
King of the state of Qin
Became King at the age of 13
Various cultures
Feudalism
Era of Warring States
There was unstrict regional powers instead of a central power overall
Ideology, Motivation, Goals:
Tyranny
China's problems existed within the local aristocracy
He wanted a central power instead of regional powers
Expansionist
Permanent rule under his dynasty
Significant Actions & events During Term of Power
Began the Great Wall construction
National censuses
Weights and measures standards
Formed one overall language instead of many differnt ones
Burned Confucius' ideas and thoughts (his books, things left behind?)
Terracota Army
Short-Term effects:
His tyranny was not liked by his people-generally disliked him
Promoted the manufacturing of silk
Long-Term Effects:
the Han dynasty took over because of his son's tyranny
Ended the Era of the Warring States
Formalization of Mandarin Chinese
bureaucracy set up the Huangdi
United China (no more regional powers/governments)
Destroyed records of the classical history
ConfucianismConfucianism was an influential and powerful social philosophy. The philosophy of Confucianism includes three main ideas; the rectification of names, the relationship between human-heartedness and righteousness and knowing Ming (fate). Confucius’s ideas of Confucianism would regain peace and order of China. Confucius strongly believed that society would be the same match to the law that everything conformed to a universal principle. He called this idea the “rectification of names”. If every citizen took on the responsibility of acting in harmony with the principle that defines his/her social role, then there would always be harmony. Confucius insisted that the completion of the duties that every person in the social structure takes on should be stimulated by human-heartedness, which he defined as “loving others”. The proper behavior of relationships was fundamental to Confucius. He explains the relationships between “ruler and subject, father and son, husband and wife, elder brother and younger brother, and friend and friend” would help China succeed in regaining their peace, unity, and order. “Knowing Ming” is the term that Confucius gave to acting without regard to the results of a person’s actions. It means the opposite of finding fate. To know Ming is to trust the results of a person’s actions to fate and not to let its perhaps negative effects dispirit a person from acting righteously. China had experienced decentralization and social instability during 551 and 479 B.C.E. Confucius said that the situation occurred because of China’s social foundation collapse. Confucianism worked to fix China’s peace and social disorder.
Silk Road -- Trade route leads to the rise of Buddhism in China
Standardized currency, weights, and measures
Annually taxed money and manual labor
Food exchanges between wheat and rice
Iron mining, Textile and pottery, Water powered mills, Paper industry, Porcelain
S
Created identity called the "Sons of Han"
Extended family networks through kinship
Family authority was heightened among the aristocrats via ancestral worship
Periodic rebellions and criminal gang uprisings
Strict code of law involved torture and execution for punishment
The Five Classics promoted literary advancement, primarily poetry and philosophical advancements
Social status was inherited unless professionalization allowed social mobility
P
Bureaucracy -The emperor sent governors with military and legal powers to govern regions in his name -Governors appointed officials to help with the job
*
I
Succeeded the Qin dynasty; formed by a peasant revolution
areas Korea, to Indochina, to the Middle East, to the Mediterranean
Conquered by the Huns, barbarians to the North
Mongolian China, Japan, Korea, and other areas were greatly influenced by classical China
R
Worshiped Confucius
Polytheistic beliefs
Statues, rituals, and celebrations were made to show reverence to spirits
Buddhism -Introduced due to interactions of the Silk Road with Indian cultures, Does not take prominence until after the Han
polytheistic. The closest thing to religion during the Han dynasty was the Taoist philosophy.
I
Three common philosophies
Confucianism -Founded by Confucius (551-478 BCE)
Daoism
Further developed by Laozi (c.500 BCE)
Favored by emperors (after Han)
Daoism eventually integrated loyalty to the empire into their dogmas
365.5 Day Lunar Calendar
Mandarin Chinese
Mandate of Heaven (during Zhou Dynasty 1029-258 BCE)
T
Science, Astronomy, Seismotography, anatomy
Art-poetry, calligraphy, jade and ivory carving, silk weaving
increase of math studies
Pulley systems
Paper
Key Terms China
Shi Huangdi
See Leader Analysis sheet at the top of the page for Shi Huangdi's information ^^^
Qin
successor of the Zhou Dynasty. From 221-202 B.C.E., Shi Huangdi ruled this dynasty from 221-202 B.C.E.- the government become more centralized, Shi Huangdi began the bureaucratic system, Great Wall under went construction, Mandarin Chinese was adapted, territory expanded to present day Hong Kong and northern Vietnam
Han
See ESPIRIT CHART on the Han Dynasty above for definition and information ^^^
Zhou
The Zhou Dynasty was a successor of the Shang Dynasty. It was a feudal state where weak regional alliances (makeshift for government) existed. The Middle Kingdom was established between the Huanghe to the Yangtze. Zhou rulers converted the idea into the mandate of Heaven, stating that rulers were rulers because they were "sons of Heaven". Mandarin Chinese was transformed into an oral form.
Great Wall
Shi Huangdi attempted in creating A huge, lengthy wall from China to prevent Northern Hun invaders. Shin Huangdi attemped this 3000 mile wall, builty by lslaves for labor and slavery. The Han Dynasty finished the wall by using annual conscripted labor.
Taoism
A philosophy developed during the Zhou dynasty. It's primary belief is in the harmony of nature: yin and yang. It stressed adhering to Tao, or moderation. Taoism provided the religious aspect that Confucianism lacked. Due to this surreal aspect, the public favored it since it coincided with their venerations of spirits and gods. The philosophy was championed c. 500 B.C.E. by Laozi and provided rivaling ethics to Confucianism. Though the philosophies tended to conflict, neither objected one another; they sometimes complemented each other. Ultimately, Taoism found favor among the emperors and political compatibility with Confucianism after loyalty to the state was integrated into their dogmas.
Confucianism
See Philosophy Analysis of Confucianism above for informatin ^^^
Legalism
Became a Han political tradition- supported an authoritarian state - the actions of the government and public were overseen by a military.
Bureaucracy
A government system where a central authority has officials with military and legal powers to govern provinces. Under Wu Tu's rule, the Han dynasty used a bureaucratic government. The system began in the Qin dynasty and Han Dynasty.
September 23, 2010
The Zhou Dynasty flourished from 1029 B.C.E. until c. 700 B.C.E. due to inner conflict and a weak political system based off of regional alliances.The most significant development throughout the entire Zhou Dynasty was the organization of the Middle Kingdom. Zhou rulers extended settlements to the Yangtze River. In the Middle Kingdom, a northern wheat industry and a southern rice industry prompted a population increase. In politics, Zhou rulers accepted the ideas of the mandate of Heaven where rulers ascended to throne because it was destiny. Lastly, they developed Mandarin Chinese in its oral form. Succeeding the Zhou Dynasty was the Era of Warring States, a period in which many people wanted superiority. The era lasted into the Qin Dynasty, but under Shi Huangdi, the dictatorial emperor, China transitioned from regional alliances into a centralized bureaucracy. The Qin Dynasty was responsible for modernization such as: expanding territory towards the south, the Great Wall, weights and measures, and the language Mandarin. Because of the tyranny of Shi Huangdi, his son's rule was overthrown by peasant rebellion. The peasant rebellion put the Han Dynasty in power from 201 B.C.E. - 220 C.E. (the classical period). Under the leadership of Wu Ti the empire experienced the most peace. Confucianism was also brought into importance. With a strong central government, economy prospered as the Qin standardizations, the Silk Road, and the many manufacturing’s brought prosperity into the nation. Taoism and Confucianism were inspired through religion, values, beliefs, customs, and culture. They supported intellectual astronomy, anatomy, arts, and writing/literature/poetry.
ConfucianismConfucianism was an influential and powerful social philosophy. The philosophy of Confucianism includes three main ideas; the rectification of names, the relationship between human-heartedness and righteousness and knowing Ming (fate). Confucius’s ideas of Confucianism would regain peace and order of China. Confucius strongly believed that society would be the same match to the law that everything conformed to a universal principle. He called this idea the “rectification of names”. If every citizen took on the responsibility of acting in harmony with the principle that defines his/her social role, then there would always be harmony. Confucius insisted that the completion of the duties that every person in the social structure takes on should be stimulated by human-heartedness, which he defined as “loving others”. The proper behavior of relationships was fundamental to Confucius. He explains the relationships between “ruler and subject, father and son, husband and wife, elder brother and younger brother, and friend and friend” would help China succeed in regaining their peace, unity, and order. “Knowing Ming” is the term that Confucius gave to acting without regard to the results of a person’s actions. It means the opposite of finding fate. To know Ming is to trust the results of a person’s actions to fate and not to let its perhaps negative effects dispirit a person from acting righteously. China had experienced decentralization and social instability during 551 and 479 B.C.E. Confucius said that the situation occurred because of China’s social foundation collapse. Confucianism worked to fix China’s peace and social disorder.
ESPIRIT - Han Dynasty
206 B.C.E. - 220 C.E.
Years: 206 B.C.E. - 220 C.E.
- Bureaucracy -The emperor sent governors with military and legal powers to govern regions in his name -Governors appointed officials to help with the job
*- Succeeded the Qin dynasty; formed by a peasant revolution
- areas Korea, to Indochina, to the Middle East, to the Mediterranean
- Conquered by the Huns, barbarians to the North
Mongolian China, Japan, Korea, and other areas were greatly influenced by classical ChinaKey Terms China
September 23, 2010
The Zhou Dynasty flourished from 1029 B.C.E. until c. 700 B.C.E. due to inner conflict and a weak political system based off of regional alliances.The most significant development throughout the entire Zhou Dynasty was the organization of the Middle Kingdom. Zhou rulers extended settlements to the Yangtze River. In the Middle Kingdom, a northern wheat industry and a southern rice industry prompted a population increase. In politics, Zhou rulers accepted the ideas of the mandate of Heaven where rulers ascended to throne because it was destiny. Lastly, they developed Mandarin Chinese in its oral form. Succeeding the Zhou Dynasty was the Era of Warring States, a period in which many people wanted superiority. The era lasted into the Qin Dynasty, but under Shi Huangdi, the dictatorial emperor, China transitioned from regional alliances into a centralized bureaucracy. The Qin Dynasty was responsible for modernization such as: expanding territory towards the south, the Great Wall, weights and measures, and the language Mandarin. Because of the tyranny of Shi Huangdi, his son's rule was overthrown by peasant rebellion. The peasant rebellion put the Han Dynasty in power from 201 B.C.E. - 220 C.E. (the classical period). Under the leadership of Wu Ti the empire experienced the most peace. Confucianism was also brought into importance. With a strong central government, economy prospered as the Qin standardizations, the Silk Road, and the many manufacturing’s brought prosperity into the nation. Taoism and Confucianism were inspired through religion, values, beliefs, customs, and culture. They supported intellectual astronomy, anatomy, arts, and writing/literature/poetry.